Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1887-10-26
The New Opera House.

We have heretofore had a Town Hall.
but what used to be the Town Hall is
now gone, or rather it is transformed
INTO new structure, so modern and so
akin TO the best houses of entertainment
IN the cities III its appliances that thev
are pleased to call it by way of dis
tinction, The Opera House, and such.
we are instructed, is to be the name
hereafter. The change from the plain.
lnconvenient, unadorned, barn-like APP
pearance of the old building is simply
wonderful, far beyond what anyone
but an architect would have conceived
could be made ofit The old arrange
ment, or rather want Of arrangement.
was something that every one was
ashamed of, and always spoken of with
an apology. This is so no longer. as
will be apparent to all Wit the house
Is opened for entertainment on Tues
day and Wednesday evenings next.
In the first place an addition was
made to the south end, giving an en-
trance from the rear to the stage the
only way heretofore being through the
main hall) and adding additional rooms
for stage purposes in the rear of where
they were before, thus giving the whole
OF the former room for sittings. The
new stage proper is 20x22 feet, hanked
on either side by dressing rooms, with
wash stands and gas and water closet.
There are four sets of scenery. besides
a handsome drop curtain, not in place
at this writing. A door at the side of
the stage connects the latter with the
audience room. There are three guages
on the stage for the performers to con
troll the light in the hall as NAV suit
their convenience, and there is on
either side water connection and hose
for Immediate use in case of accident
from fire. The foot lights are of the
most modern construction, unobserVed
by the audience with a similar con-
struction for the lights over the top of
the scenery. Every possible want for
the stage has been supplied.
In the audience room the great
change is in the extension of the gal
lery, lowering and giving it the curved
outline, noticeable in city opera houses,
with paneled front. The gallery will
have a seating capacity of 150 each
row of seats being elevated above the
other making it perhaps the most de-
sirable place in the house for spectac-
ular observation. A section in the rear
corner Of the latter of 25 or so seats has
been set off for the cOlored people.
The main audience room has 344
seats in it, and quite a number more
can be got in in case of necessity. The
new seats have been received this
week. AS used in the hall they are
settee in form, four seats, but construc-
ted so as to fold together as one chair.
They are of pretty pattern, perforated
seats, the latter fitting, so that persons
can pass in and out with convenience.
They are the same kind as used in the
MennOrchOr Hall, of Philadelphia, and
Academy of Music, Wilmington, and
procured by VIM. A. FAIRIES & Bro.
from the manufacturers, A. H. An
drews & Co., New York.
The ceiling is caloemined In lavender
color, with paper border, which with
attractive papered walls finished with
dado at the bottom of the paper hang
ers own design, gives the room a most
cheerful appearance. The chandelier
has been elevated, and the cencre-piece
has been given some fine touches from
the skillful brush of the painter. In
addition, the windows have been dec
grated with stained glass and the gas
globes so arranged as to give the room
pretty effect by day or night Above,
but not connected with this is the new
tower that surmOunts the building, not
yet finished, adding to its outside ap-
pearanOe, and in which will suspend
the new bell of the Citizens Hose Com
pany. A handsome extra super car
pet has been purchased of J. B. Cooper
for the stage, and the latter will like
wise be supplied with the necessary
furniture, finished in plush.
The carpenter work was done by
Joseph Wright, the painting by Joseph
Z. Carter, and the plumbing by Geo.
o. Bailey, all of whom have done their
work in q satisfactory manner. The
stage scenery is by Charles r. Risdon,
of Philadelphia, formerly a resident of
this town who arrived last night with
two assistants to execute the mural
painting and put the scenery in place.